The Land Leviathan (A Nomad of the Time Streams Novel)

Read The Land Leviathan (A Nomad of the Time Streams Novel) for Free Online

Book: Read The Land Leviathan (A Nomad of the Time Streams Novel) for Free Online
Authors: Michael Moorcock
failure, but it will be of help to us.”
    Accordingly, we were soon on horseback, heading down the long slope away from the stranded train. By noon we were deep into unpopulated country, following the course of a river along the floor of a valley. The valley was narrow and thickly wooded and at length we were forced to dismount and lead our horses through the moss-covered rocks. It had begun to rain quite heavily and the ground was slippery, slowing our progress even more. Moreover, it had become hard to see more than a few yards ahead of us. Owing to my lack of sleep and the hypnotic effect of the rain falling on the foliage above my head, I continued almost in a trance, hardly aware of my own tiredness. We exchanged few words and emerged from the forest and remounted when it was quite late in the afternoon, with only a few hours of daylight left. The river began to rise and we still followed it, from one valley into another, until we came upon some reasonably level ground where we decided to make camp and consult our maps to see what progress we had so far made.
    It was as I watched the men erecting the tent which Lu and I would share that I glanced up into the hills and thought I saw a figure move behind a rock some distance away. I remarked on this to Mr. Lu. He accepted that I had probably seen someone, but he reassured me.
    “It is not surprising. Probably only an observer—a scout sent to keep an eye on us and make sure that we are not a disguised military expedition. I doubt if we shall be bothered by him.”
    I could not sleep well that night and I must admit that in my exhaustion I had begun to regret the impulse which had sent me on this adventure. I wondered if it would all end in some sordid massacre, if, by morning, my stripped corpse would lie amongst the remains of our camp. I would not be the first European foolish enough to embark upon such a journey and pay the ultimate price for his folly. When I did sleep, at last, my dreams were not pleasant. Indeed, they were the strangest and most terrifying dreams I have ever experienced. Yet, for some reason, I awoke from all this feeling completely refreshed and cleansed of my fears. I began to be optimistic about our chances of reaching the Valley of the Morning and ate the crude fare served us for breakfast with immense relish.
    Mr. Lu was moved to comment on my demeanour. “We Chinese are famous for our stoicism,” he said, “but we could learn something from your British variety!”
    “It’s not stoicism,” I said. “Merely a mood. I can’t explain it.”
    “Perhaps you sense good luck. I hope so.” He indicated the rocky hills on both sides of us. “A fairly large company of men has been moved up in the night. We are probably completely surrounded.”
    “Do they mean to attack, I wonder?” I glanced about, but could see no sign of the soldiers.
    “I would suppose that this manoeuvre is a precaution. They are probably still wondering if we are spies or part of a disguised army.”
    I now noticed that our men were betraying a certain nervousness, fingering their rifles and bandoliers, glancing around them at the rocks and muttering amongst themselves in an agitated fashion. Lu Kan-fon was the only person who seemed unconcerned; speaking rapidly, he gave orders for our pack horses to be loaded and, at first reluctantly, his men moved to obey. It was only when the last bundle had been secured and we prepared to mount that the soldiers revealed themselves.
    Unlike many of the government troops, these men wore uniforms which were distinctly Chinese—loose smocks and trousers of black, yellow, white and red. On the backs and fronts of the smocks were big circles on which had been printed Chinese characters, evidently giving the rank and regiment of the soldier. Some wore skull-caps, while others had wide-brimmed straw hats. All were clean-shaven and well-disciplined and all possessed modern carbines, apparently of German manufacture. While their guns

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